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Oakhurst man arrested for arson in Deadwood fires |

Oak wood— CAL FIRE law enforcement investigators, in conjunction with the Madera County Sheriff's Department and the Madera County District Attorney's Office, have arrested Pao Xiong. Xiong was arrested for starting approximately 14 separate fires, including multiple structure fires on Deadwood Mountain in Oakhurst, California. The fires occurred on Friday, July 19, 2024, beginning at approximately 10:43 p.m. For more details on the fires, see our published article Here.

View of the fires from AlertCalifornia's wildfire camera atop Deadwood Mountain at 11:02 p.m.

The investigation

Throughout the investigation, CAL FIRE law enforcement and the Madera County Sheriff's Department were aware that Xiong had left the Oakhurst area after the fires began on Friday, July 19, 2024. Throughout the investigation, public safety was the primary concern of all law enforcement agencies involved

According to the Madera County Sheriff's Office, in support of CAL FIRE's initial investigation, the Madera County Sheriff's Special Enforcement Team (MADSET) and the Madera County Sheriff's Narcotic Enforcement Team (MADNET) assigned detectives to assist in identifying the individual responsible for these fires. During the course of the investigation and analysis of evidence, investigators identified Mr. Xiong as the primary suspect in connection with the fires.

surveillance

Following this development, he was placed under surveillance to ensure he did not return to the property or further endanger residents living there. Investigators from both agencies worked together to monitor the suspect and further analyze evidence in the case.

The arrest

On August 22, 2024, investigators with the Madera Sheriff's Office and CAL FIRE arrested Mr. Xiong, a resident of Oakhurst for approximately eight years, at a residence located in the 1600 block of South Bush Avenue in the City of Fresno. He was booked into the Madera County Jail on fourteen (14) counts of arson. The investigation report was forwarded to the Madera County District Attorney's Office.

Photo by Sheriff Tyson Pogue.Photo by Sheriff Tyson Pogue.

Sheriff Tyson Pogue.

Madera County Sheriff Pogue said, “We would like to commend the cooperation between the Sheriff's Office and CAL FIRE investigators and the meticulous work at the original crime scene.”

He continued, “It is my great honor to assure the residents of Deadwood that they can sleep well tonight knowing that this suspect is in custody.”

Madera County Sheriff's Office And COLD FIRE We continue to vigorously advocate for the arrest and prosecution of all persons who intentionally set fires in Madera County.

CAL FIRE would like to take this opportunity to remind the public that crimes of this nature take a significant amount of time, not only to make an arrest, but also to collect and process evidence. CAL FIRE would like to thank the public for their support and patience during this joint comprehensive investigation by CAL FIRE law enforcement, the Madera County Sheriff's Department, the Madera County District Attorney's Office, and the California Department of Justice Bureau of Forensic Services.

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